Device for Influencing the room climate

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device for influencing the room climate which offers convenient operation at low costs with regard to procurement, installation, and ongoing operation, in order to influence the room climate in heated or air-conditioned rooms while avoiding unnecessary energy losses, and which expands the application range in the room air conditioning by means of a simple retrofitting possibility. According to the invention, the control apparatus for the room temperature is integrated into an electrical measuring and display apparatus, which is intended as a room operating apparatus for measuring, displaying, evaluating, and providing room climate values, and adjustments to the control apparatus are made by means of the room operating apparatus.

The invention relates to a control system for room climate in a heated or air-conditioned room.

An apparatus and equipment is known in the prior art for measuring, displaying and evaluating climate data, and both interior room data and values for the outside climate can be detected. A climate-measuring device is also known that displays a need for ventilation based on the measured data by comparing the measured values with set points. In particular room climate systems are known that open or close the windows in the room by motor drives. Such an embodiment can be retrofitted only at high cost.

There are also known room climate-control devices that display not only the need for ventilation by manual ventilation through windows but also activate a ventilation system with or without heat recovery. Such systems are also highly complex and are accordingly expensive to acquire. Retrofitting of existing facilities is associated with a high cost. Systems are also known that reduce or turn off the power of the heating or cooling source. Such systems have integrated electronic contacts on the windows, for example, so that they are controlled by temperature measurement and also by electronic contact in opening and closing the windows. Such systems also require extremely cost-intensive measures.

Know systems have displayed status data about the room climate and to some extent also the need for ventilation, but they offer little or no inexpensive options of having a direct influence on the room temperature control. This may result in energy losses or an inferior room climate because the power of the heating and/or cooling system, in conjunction with window ventilation that has already been implemented, may not be reduced or resumed or this may be done too early or too late. The status data on the room climate may be shown on a desk-top or wall-mounted display. An apparatus that controls the room temperature and offers the option of presetting the set point are separate from this. Not only is this not user-friendly, because two devices must be installed, operated and handled, but it is also inconvenient and expensive. Furthermore, there is no functional relationship among the devices with one another.

Another disadvantage of the battery-operated display apparatus known in the prior art is that it is impossible to display room climate parameters that can be detected only by sensors with a higher energy consumption, as in the case of CO₂ sensors, for example.

In this case, a new display or an accessory device would have to be used.

Systems for improving room climate by automatic ventilation systems with control of fans or window drives are also associated with high costs.

In particular, hard-wired window contacts that relay the “open window detected” signal to a room temperature regulator for a forced room temperature reduction, necessitate a high installation expense, which is an extreme disadvantage in the retrofitting business in particular because of the structural interventions required.

In systems with open window detection, by a drop in room temperature in a predefined interval of time, there is the problem that minor or gradual changes in temperature cannot be evaluated at all or cannot be evaluated reliably, for example, in the case of tilt ventilation windows. Such systems are also practically useless when there are minor differences in temperature between the interior and the outside. The same thing is true when, for example, with large rooms, the temperature drops slowly in ventilation because the incoming cold outside air, for example, does not strike the room temperature sensor directly.

Therefore, if the temperature gradient is too low, it may even happen that no open window detection is reported to the room temperature regulator and the regulator then even counteracts this by the temperature change initiated by the opened window.

Against the background of this prior art, the object of the present invention is to create a device of the generic type that will provide a convenient operating option for influencing the room climate in heated or air-conditioned rooms at a low cost with regard to procurement, installation and ongoing operation, while avoiding unnecessary energy losses and expanding the scope of application in room air conditioning by a simple retrofitting option.

To solve this problem, the invention proposes that a control device for the room climate, in particular for the room temperature, is integrated into an electric measurement and display that is provided as a room controller for the measurement, display, evaluation and supply of room climate variables and to perform settings on it by the room controller.

Such a device combines the measurement and display of room climate values with the control of room temperature and allows one to visualize all room climate values on just one display screen and user interface and to make adjustments. Thanks to this combination, the installation cost is greatly reduced and thus the cost of visualization and adjustment of the room climate is reduced.

Furthermore, room climate data can be evaluated directly and used for room temperature control so that unnecessary energy losses are avoided in performing ventilation measures.

According to a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention when at least one element is installed in the heated and air-conditioned rooms for heating or cooling using an activatable electronic control element, the activatable electronic control element has inputs and outputs for data communication with the room controller. The values transmitted by the room controller for activating the electronic control element can directly take into account information from the evaluation of the room climate parameters in doing so.

To display the room climate and its improvement by taking into account simplified technical ventilation measures, such as window ventilation, for example, and to reduce heating and/or cooling energy losses during these technical ventilation measures, an important advantage is achieved, wherein the device is comprised of an electronic room controller that measures room climate data, such as, for example, carbon dioxide, moisture, odoriferous substances and temperature by suitable sensors and/or receives, displays and evaluates data from external sensors and makes this data available by outputs for data communication and there is a control device for the room temperature and communicates with an electronic control element that can be activated by the control device for valves for adjusting the volume flow in the heating or cooling system.

It is associated with even less installation expense if transmission and reception units are integrated into the room controller and if the activatable electronic control element for data communication by radio. Furthermore, this yields the advantage that the data communication with several electronic control elements installed in a room, for example, on heating elements can be established simultaneously.

One advantageous embodiment of the device that is regarded as inventive independently, is derived with respect to its power supply through the optional equipment with batteries or connection to an electric power grid. In this way, on the one hand, the installation expense can be further reduced, while on the other hand, a power supply by way of line voltage can be retrofitted using the same equipment.

It is particularly advantageous in retrofitting if the room controller has a battery compartment for the power supply using batteries, this battery compartment being closable by a cover plate that is designed as an electric line-power part for power supply via line voltage or is connected by a power cable to such line power. By such accessories, the room controller can be switched from battery supply to line power very rapidly and at a low cost without having to make any additional changes in the room controller.

In a preferred application, the cover plate is forms the back part of the room controller or is designed as a stand for a desktop installation or as a wall mounting device.

In the case of power supply by line voltage, a particularly advantageous design of the room controller is obtained because then the interior space of the battery compartment remains empty and additional components for expanding functions of the device for display of the room climate can be integrated into this space.

An advantageous expansion of function is obtained due to the fact that the electronic components such as sensors, for example, for detecting additional room climate data in the interior space of the battery compartment are used, these electronic components being represented by the device for display of the room climate displayed, evaluated and made available for data communication.

A preferred application is from the use of a sensor for detecting the carbon dioxide CO₂ level of room air along with an electronic circuit board accommodated as a unit in the interior of the battery compartment and sealed by the cover plate.

A particularly advantageous expansion of function that can be regarded as inventive independently, is obtained by detecting the changes in the room climate data over time, forming a gradient with this data and using it to influence the room climate values.

If the gradient is formed from measured CO₂ values, it may be used advantageously by the room controller to control the power supply for the room heating and/or room air conditioning.

The formation of the gradient is triggered here in a suitable manner by a manual ventilation measure, for example, window ventilation, because a high CO₂ level in room air drops very rapidly when a window is opened.

Conversely, the CO₂ level in the room air also rises again when the window is closed. In the meantime the energy supply for heating or cooling may constitute unnecessary power consumption, so the gradient is used as a signal for ramping down the heating or cooling system.

Embodiments of the invention are described in greater detail below with reference the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a basic diagram of the device for display of the room climate;

FIG. 2 shows a room controller with a display and control unit;

FIG. 3 is a back view of the room controller with the battery compartment;

FIG. 4 shows a cover plate for the back of the room controller;

FIG. 5 is a view like FIG. 4, but with a power cable;

FIG. 6 shows a stand for free installation of the room controller;

FIG. 7 is a view like FIG. 3, with components for expanding the functions;

FIG. 8 shows the change in a room climate value over time for forming a gradient.

FIG. 1 shows in a basic diagram a device for display of room climate values set up in a room. The window F is a manual ventilation device. The apparatus consists of an electronic room controller 1 that monitors the room climate data using its own sensors or receives this data wirelessly from external sensors, then evaluates the data and makes it available at outputs (for example radio sensors) for data communication. A control element for the room temperature is integrated into the room controller.

The front side of the rectangular room controller 1 has a display screen 1′ that shows data measured by sensors, for example, the temperature, the carbon-dioxide level and the relative atmospheric humidity. The device contains corresponding electronic sensors that are connected via an electronic intelligence, for example, a data memory or a processor connected to one another and to the display means of the display 1′. At the same time, the electronic intelligence communicates with an output device integrated into the apparatus, for example, a radio transmitter by means of which control signals that are used to adjust an activatable electronic control element S, are generated by the control unit that is also integrated into the apparatus and/or used on a heating or cooling element H, for example. The corresponding electronic components are engaged in communication by the corresponding inputs and outputs.

FIG. 2 shows the operating elements 2 of the control unit, with which settings of set points, for example, are set or intervals of time can be programmed and stored in an electronic memory accommodated in the apparatus housing, for example, and/or can be processed.

Another component of the device for display of room climate values is an electronic control element 3 that can be activated by the room controller for a valves V mounted on a heater H to adjust the volume flow in this illustrated embodiment. To be able to receive control commands and to send position messages, the control element has inputs and outputs for data communication, in particular with the radio sensor of the room controller 1.

The room controller 1 can be powered by batteries or by line voltage.

In this regard, FIG. 3 shows a battery compartment 4 on the back 5 of the room controller 1. When batteries have been inserted, the battery compartment 4 is closed by a cover plate 6 shown in FIG. 4, and, at the same time, forms the back wall of the room controller 1 and is inserted into a housing of the room controller 1 according to the tongue-and-groove principle.

Two contacts 7 are provided directly beneath the battery compartment 4. In the case of power supply via line voltage, these contacts are contacted by the respective opposing contacts 8 of a cover plate (see FIG. 5). This cover plate 6 here has an electric power cable S that establishes a power connection to line power, for example. It also forms the back wall of the room controller 1.

Both versions of the cover plate 6 have additional elements 14 for wall mounting and also for mounting on a flush mounting box.

FIG. 6 shows a third version of the cover plate 6 that functions as a stand 9 for a free-standing installation, for example, on a table. A fourth version (not shown here) also has the contacts described above and a power cable.

FIG. 7 shows a special feature of the invention. No batteries are needed when the room controller 1 is supplied with line power, so that the interior 10 of the battery compartment 11 remains empty.

This offers the possibility of introducing additional components 12 for expanding the function of the apparatus for display of the room climate. The components may advantageously be sensors or actuators that are used to detect room air quality. The components may be CO₂ sensors in particular. When using the cover plate 6 according to FIG. 5, the room controller 1 equipped in this way can be put into operation immediately.

Due to the fact that, according to claim 1 of the invention, the room controller 1 also holds the control unit for the room temperature and, as described previously, additional room climate values, such as the carbon-dioxide level in the room air, can be detected, this yields another special feature. In this feature, the change in at least one room climate value over time is described by forming a gradient by an electronic unit of the room controller 1 and this gradient is used for influencing the room climate value(s). FIG. 8 shows one such trend 13 of a room climate value over time as an example. A gradient that is the result of a drop in a room climate variable, for example, can be used for intervening in the control of the room temperature. For example, in the case of a decline in the CO₂ level of the room air due to window ventilation, the gradient thus formed may be used for a reduction in the power supply to the heating or cooling system to save on power during the ventilation phase. Conversely, when the window is closed, the gradient formed due to the increasing trend in the CO₂ level can be utilized to reactivate the power supply. 

1. A control system for room climate in heated or air-conditioned rooms, wherein a control unit for room temperature is integrated into an electric measurement and display apparatus that is provided as a room controller for the measurement, display, evaluation and supply of room climate variables, and adjustments can be made on it by the room controller.
 2. The control system for room climate in heated or air-conditioned rooms according to claim 1, wherein at least one element is installed in a heated and air-conditioned rooms for heating or cooling using an activatable electronic control element, the activatable electronic control element having inputs and outputs for data communication with the room controller.
 3. The control system for room climate in heated or air-conditioned rooms according to claim 2, wherein the room controller and the activatable electronic control element have wireless transmitters and receivers.
 4. The control system for room climate in heated or air-conditioned rooms according to claim 1, wherein the room controller together with the sensors, the integrated control unit for the room temperature or the activatable electronic control element are powered via batteries or line power.
 5. The control system for room climate in heated or air-conditioned rooms in particular according to claim 1, wherein the room controller is supplied with power by batteries in a first variant and can be retrofitted to a second variant that is supplied with line power.
 6. The control system for room climate in heated or air-conditioned rooms according to claim 5, wherein the room controller has a battery compartment for power supply by batteries, the battery compartment can be closed with a cover plate and the cover plate is designed for supplying power via line power or is connected to line power in order to ensure a power supply to the room controller.
 7. The control system for room climate in heated or air-conditioned rooms according to claim 6, wherein the cover plate forms the back part of the room controller and is designed either as a stand for free setup or as a mounting device for the wall.
 8. The control system for room climate in heated or air-conditioned rooms according to claim 6, wherein the remaining free interior of the battery compartment in the power supply to the room controller by line power is an installation space that accommodates additional components for expanding the function of the device for display of the room climate.
 9. The control system for room climate in heated or air-conditioned rooms according to claim 8, wherein the components in the battery compartment include one or more electronic components for example, sensors or actuators that can accommodate and influence the room climate data.
 10. The control system for room climate in heated or air-conditioned rooms according to claim 9, wherein sensors installed in the battery compartment detect measured data about the room air quality and display, evaluate and supply this data by the device for display of the room climate and supply the data for data communication.
 11. The control system for room climate in heated or air-conditioned rooms according to claim 10, wherein at least one sensor installed in the battery compartment detects the carbon-dioxide CO₂ level in the room air, the CO₂ sensor being connected to an electronic circuit board and the two together are accommodated in the battery compartment and the battery compartment is covered by the cover plate.
 12. The control system for room climate in heated or air-conditioned rooms in particular according to claim 1, wherein the room controller detects the change in at least one room climate value over time by forming a gradient and using this to influence the room climate value(s).
 13. The control system for room climate in heated or air-conditioned rooms according to claim 12, wherein the gradient is formed from the change in the CO₂ level of the room air over time and is used by the room controller to control the energy input for the room heating and or room air conditioning.
 14. The control system for room climate in heated or air-conditioned rooms according to claim 12, wherein the change in at least one room climate value over time is initiated by manual ventilation measures, such as for example, window ventilation. 